State rank#32 of 254
Smallest county164,654 residentsHarris County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 48135
Ector County, Texas
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population164,654
Household income$71,536
Unemployment3.5%
Life expectancy71.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Ector County has 164,654 residents and ranks #32 by population among Texas county equivalents. Median household income is $71,536. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Texas
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Ector County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Ector County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $200,200 median home value and $1,259/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,536, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Ector County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and primary care access. College attainment is 17.6% and life expectancy is 71.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.5%, rank #68 of 254 available Texas counties.
- Median household income: $71,536, rank #74 of 254 available Texas counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,751 residents, rank #79 of 231 available Texas counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,259/mo, rank #215 of 249; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 71.5 years, rank #199 of 236; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 21.8%, rank #185 of 254; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Texas
Rank and range use only counties in Texas with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$71,536
$71,536; above the state county median of $65,035.
State rank #74 of 254 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$200,200
$200,200; above the state county median of $169,250.
State rank #166 of 250 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,259/mo
$1,259/mo; above the state county median of $957/mo.
State rank #215 of 249 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.5%
3.5%; below the state county median of 4%.
State rank #68 of 254 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
17.6%
17.6%; below the state county median of 20.6%.
State rank #166 of 254 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
71.5 years
71.5 years; below the state county median of 73.9 years.
State rank #199 of 236 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
25.5%
25.5%; above the state county median of 22.8%.
State rank #184 of 254 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
21.8%
21.8%; above the state county median of 19.6%.
State rank #185 of 254 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,751 residents
1 per 1,751 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,458 residents.
State rank #79 of 231 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 1,769 residents
1 per 1,769 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,604 residents.
State rank #120 of 221 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Ector County FAQ
Is Ector County a good place to live?
Ector County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and primary care access. College attainment is 17.6% and life expectancy is 71.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Ector County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $200,200 median home value and $1,259/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,536, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Ector County?
Ector County has 164,654 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Ector County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 48135; the parent state FIPS is 48.
What is the median household income in Ector County?
The ACS median household income is $71,536.
How much does housing cost in Ector County?
Housing benchmarks are $200,200 median home value and $1,259/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,536, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Ector County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring